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Topic: Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM (Read 92979 times)

Got mine a few days ago, have only had a couple of chances to use it, and those were close to home. Looking forward to having a bit more free time to travel to some better local spots (Plum Island, etc.).

All shots taken handheld, first two with the bare lens on an overcast, drizzly late afternoon (note the ISO used), the third on a sunny day (only one this week!) with the 1.4x III, and the last one

...and one bonus shot, the first one I took with the new lens. It was pouring rain and dark outside, so I decided to treat it as an indoor portrait lens. This one is with the 1D X, f/4, 1/160 s, ISO 10000 and handheld.

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Richard Lane

Congrats on the new lens John! What a great combination between the 1DX and 600II.

Bummer about the weather, but I really like the 1st shot, as the squirrel really "pops off the screen" and the ISO 6400 appears very well controlled too. Nice capture on the 3rd shot as well.., the Heron looks like a"flasher."

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Yes, but RRS may rethink that for the 500 II. There's a note on their website about it not balancing properly on a gimbal when TCs and/or a heavy body are used. It's fine with the 600 II with the 2x and 1D X - that combo has the back of the foot flush with the LLR clamp on the gimbal. With the 1.4x and 2x stacked, the back of the foot is ~8mm inside the clamp (still safe, according to RRS).

Since the 600 II is longer and more front-heavy than the 500 II, I expect there might be an issue balancing that lens with a 2x and gripped body.

Interestingly, the RRS foot extends further back than the stock Canon foot or the Kirk replacement - those might be problematic on a gimbal.

Sashi

Hi, I'm still waiting for the 600 II and would like some information regarding the foot. I have a wimberely gimbal head and while interested in the replacement foot I'm apprehensive as the website states it will make it difficult to carry the lens by hand due to the reduced distance. Is this the case or am I ok to go ahead with getting one? Also do you recommend the rrs one over the wimberely?Thanks

The Wimberley replacement foot is really just a plate, and has no riser. "Difficult to use as a handle?" I'd say close to impossible. I just measured the extension of the collar where the foot mounts - it's 1/2" high, I can't see how I could wrap my hand around the Wimberley 'foot'. I'd definitely recommend the RRS foot over the Wimberley.

You could also go with the Canon foot and P-50 plate. The combo won't extend as far back as the RRS foot, but the clamping surface on the Wimberley II is ~60mm long, whereas the RRS PG-02 LLR that I use has an 80mm clamp - the P-50 might not sit all the way back on the platform, but should be entirely within the clamp with most loads (perhaps not if you stack two TCs or mount a flash on the camera hotshoe).

DB

Fabulous shots John, especially like the 2nd bird pic - amazing purple & greens blown-out background and incredible detail on both the bird & the branch - so much for handheld at the reciprocal of the focal length! (even with IS, its still good)

btw anyone who thinks that Canon tech is not taking strides forward, should examine those handheld 600mm @ ISO=6400 shots, and realize that enthusiasts can produce National Geographic quality photos.